Caps

If you were to pick the song that symbolized D.C. sports the most, “Hail to the Redskins” would be the answer from almost anyone. Just not me.

As D.C. counts down the days until the 2014 Draft, where the Redskins have lost their first-round pick, again to the Rams, still owing them for the R.G.3 trade, and will in all likelihood, if history repeats itself, go away from the idea they need to pick a pass defense or an offensive line. But we don’t care – who doesn’t love the Redskins in this city, and consider the Spring and Summer “The dark months”? No matter how good the Caps, Wizards and Nats are, most Washingtonians have a little thought in the back of their head, “This is our year – this is the year the Redskins win it all”. While we’ve had that thought many times, the closest we’ve ever gotten (this century) is two first round playoff losses to Seattle.

I understand the longing for a possible championship team. However, that team is already here. That team is the Washington Nationals.

As pitchers and catchers report this thursday, the disappointment that was the 2013 season is no longer in the heads of Nats fans. The boys of summer are heading down to Viera, Florida as we read, and hope is full in our hearts. But this isn’t like saying that the Redskins are going to win the Super Bowl this year, just because of a winning record. The Nats have every single piece ready and waiting – there is no hole visible in the roster. They proved two years ago that they have the potential to go, and to win the World Series. After a humbling experience last year, I believe this year, they can have the season everybody expects of them.

But this isn’t the problem. The problem does not lie in new manager Matt Williams or in twenty one year old left fielder Bryce Harper. No, we are the problem.

Two years ago, the slogan was “Ignite your Natitude”. And oh, we ignited it, with record crowds and a division title. However, D.C. has still yet to “Embrace their Natitude”. Embracing your Natitude does not mean going to fifty games a year or going down to Viera, F.L. for all of Spring Training, but bringing your most excited and most enthusiastic attitude to the ballpark, and cheering as loud as possible. It does not mean watching Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo each night (although I personally enjoy that). Instead, it means just talking about the Nats at school or work or wherever you spend your time, or just simply sticking a Nats bumper sticker on your car. Embracing your Natitude means believing that the Nats can win a championship, just being excited, and until November, silencing that Redskins voice inside your head.

The Nats have a great chance this year. However, with this city’s attitude, it feels like it could be wasted on the majority of us. So go ahead. It’s time to embrace your Natitude.

In this first ever NCAA Football post, we celebrate. Celebrate because the evil empire, being the BCS, has fell to the knights of righteousness, and not-money-hungry people. Today, the BCS has decided that it will now go to a four team playoff. In case you couldn’t guess where I was

And no more Utah’s, Boise States, USCs and TCUs, all of which finished with 12 win records. This is the best four teams in the country. With room for upsets and with room for cinderella, the once all-powerful BCS is dead.

“The king is dead, long live the king!!”

The semifinals will be on January 1st, no matter what. But this is the best part for me, what I’m about to say.

If you’ve ever noticed, the big bowls are always in Miami or Tampa or New Orleans or in a dome. In the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, the games are played at the higher seed’s home or the higher seed gets home advantage. Now, in the semifinals, on new years day, they will be played at home – because in all honesty – do you think somebody from California will go to Florida or somebody from Indiana to California just to watch the game? Instead, games are at the one and two seed’s home stadium. And for Florida? Now they could get an extra home game.

I used to think College Football was pointless, since only two teams had a real chance. No more, that will die exactly 611 days from now, 611 days until we see College Football become a true playoff system, and a league worth following.

Part II

The Capitals have beat the Bruins, and are facing the Rangers, for all you hockey fans who have been living under a rock. The Capitals have been the one, two, or three seeds the past four years, and have lost half the time in the first round. But they improved their record to .600 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs first round. But this time, the Caps may go further than the second round, where they have lost every single time they’ve advanced.

They’ve been one, two, and three seeds. And been upset. The Capitals had tons of pressure, and now the pressure’s off. Leaving them to play, and win – beating Tim Thomas and the Bruins. With rookie Braden Holtby, who is playing most outstandingly. The pressure’s off, and the playing’s up. DC may have a shot this year, with good reason.